Editorial: Can rape be used as a punch line?

Effectively, that’s the question that was raised when one of our sister publications ran, on their back cover, a parody of the cartoon Hagar the Horrible [Rearguard, Feb. 2010].

Hagar, the cartoon’s protagonist and viking leader, notes that in viking rankings, the group’s pillaging rate is up but “we’re losing a lot of points in the ‘rape’ category.” When his male companion inquires as to how this can be fixed, Hagar responds with, “First, we get you another drink, baby.”

At least one reader found this use of potential sexual assault as a comedic device to be offensive. In addition to a letter to the editor we received—calling for a public reprimand of the Rearguard and the resignation of comic artist Adam Barber—posters were placed around campus shaming the publication and stating that rape, even between two men, is not funny.

While the cartoon in question may not have been in good taste, and putting its lack of effectiveness as a joke aside, it should be noted that it is a form of protected speech.

Parodies are a form of social commentary or critique that are protected under the free speech clause of our First Amendment as artistic expression. Artists often use the recognizable to shed light on the repulsive, and in this case, the repulsive was our institution’s connection to a barbaric culture.

Barber used the image of Hagar as a connection to our school mascot, the Vikings, who are historically known as barbarians who used heavy-handed methods of conquering far-off lands. Though historians still argue over whether the “rape and pillage” stigma is accurate, it is hard to dispute that the association nevertheless exists in people’s minds. Barber was making the point that, by proxy, that stigma falls upon our mascot as well.

Negative response to the comic is understandable. According to a recent investigation conducted by the Center for Public Integrity in conjunction with reporters from National Public Radio, one out of five women will be sexually assaulted during her time in college. 

The message in Barber’s spoof of Hagar may be lost because of the emotional response it evokes, but that isn’t the point. Our First Amendment sets us apart from many other cultures, and the freedom it affords is a source of pride. However, it can also be a double-edged sword.

Having such a freedom also protects that with which we may not agree. Author Noam Chomsky wrote that to truly believe in freedom of speech, you must also believe that those with whom you disagree hold the same freedom.

The same constitutional tool that allows hate groups, such as the KKK, to organize rallies is what allows us to fight for civil rights.

Though Barber can be criticized for insensitivity to a major public concern, the Rearguard cannot be put under fire for utilizing the same freedom that allows each of us to voice our disapproval.